Process of treating masonry surfaces



Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT" o fF-IcE. I

LOUIS s. wnn'rz, on snaxnn nnidnrs,'onro',hssm1won 'ro TEE wna'rz comma,

or CLEVELAND, 01110, A coarona'rron or 0310.

,rnocnss onrnnarme msonmr summons.

i No Drawing.

My invention relates to methods of waterproofing or resurfacing masonry walls, ceillngs, floors, et cetera, such as concrete, cement,

brick and stone walls. -It may be applied to a surface of any material which is not, per se, waterproof,-and which has openings or pores and which is not capable of resistingv the absorption or transmissionof water therethrough'. r This application is a continuation, in part,

of my application Serial No. 75,131 filed December..12, 1925. a v -Iron inowdered form, or reduced to fine particles, as been employed to waterproof concrete surfaces, but heretofore, so far as known. to me, it'has either been mixed with the concrete, or has been applied to the surface in the formof awash,-e. g., by mixing v finely, divided iron in a solution of an oxidiz- H ing accelerator, and applying the same with a Whenmixed with the concrete the means of a brush. As the li u1d is used as a carrier for the iron to eifect t e application thereof to the surface to be treated 1t must be employed greatly in excess of the quantlty required for the most efficient chemical action. Chemical action begins at once in such a mixture, the iron undergoing a slow process of oxidation, but sufliciently rapid to be distinctly discernable in the discoloration of the liquid. To prevent all the iron from settling to the bottom, the workman was instructed to frequently stir the mixture but on account of the relative weight of the iron it quickly 1 .45 settled to the bottom. If the process was-begun with the proper proportion of iron the tendency of the iron to settle to the bottom resulted in constant change in the proportions because the workman took the material from 1 the top with a constant lessening of the liquid I t pe of waterproofing to which the methods Application filed 0mm 9, "1920'. Serial ll'o. 140,680.

constituent. With this constant change in PIOPOI'tlOIlS of ingredientsthe final result was a 'coatin on the surface treated which differed at lfi'erent .pointsin quantity of iron applied and in color, and, because of the 'constantchemical reactions, a difference 1n the condition of'the iron ap lied. It was a common ractice also to ad water as the f hquid constltuent decreased, which decreased the proportion of oxidizing accelerator; Fur-' thermore, when the ingredients are applied in thisway and on account of. the excess of liquid it forms a water seal over the particles of iron which prevents oxidation until the surface water evaporates, and also closes up the pores in the surface treated and prevents the entrance of the iron at the very points where their presence is most effective. The

a ve described relate, in order to be eifec- 7o tive, de ends upon the oxidation of the material a ter it is in-place, andespecially upon the expansion of the iron by oxidation in the pores or voids. Therefore it' is of great importance not only to insert the iron par- 15 ticles fully into the voids, but to gill them uniformly over the entire surface and before the iron has been expanded by chemical action. Therefore it is the'ob'ect of this invention to more effectively an uniformly appl a coating of the nature described and to eifbct inch application at less expense than heretoore. The invention consists of methods hereinafter fully described and set forth in the ap- 7 pended claims.

The principal feature which characterizes my invention is the method of applying the oxidizable medium (preferably finely divided iron) to the surface to be treated. Instead of applying it to the surface with a brush or mixing it with the materials, I forcibly project it onto the surface whereby the particles are caused to enter fully into the pores. They are also projected into the oresin a substantially ure state, that is, be oretheyhave been partia ly chemically acted upon, or oxidized, and are so associated with ,themeans for efiecting oxidation that oxidation takes place with morerapidity than by methods hereto: 10p

fore employed. The particles of iron expand within the pores to completely fill the same,

yet without the tendency to render the ma-' terial friable, as the expansion takes place toward the open end of the voids after they have been completely filled.

A pneumatic gun is preferably employed to effect the forcible entry of the particles of iron oxidation.

into the pores, which may be of a construction well known in. the art in this way air is usedas a carrier for the iron instead of water, which is necessary for uniform and rapid In order that the particles of iron shall oxidize quickly and effectively, they should be associated with water and air, and also an oxidizing accelerator, such as ammonium chloride (sal-ammoniac). Other oxidizing accelerators might be employed, for example, other ammonium salts, sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid, alum and the like, but salammoniac has been found particularly effective and well adapted to the purpose. The

' presence of these materials with iron in the pores may be effected in various Ways. One way of proceedingis to first wet the surface to be treated and'then project onto the wet is needed it may be admitted at the nozzle,

surface a dry mixture of iron (or dtheroxidizable medium) and sal-ammoniac (or other oxidizable accelerator) in suitable proportion, as is well known in the art, a good proportion being 5% sal-ammoniac to 95% of iron. Or, as an alternative proceeding, a solution of salammoniac and water might be applied to thesurfaceand the particles of iron be then projected onto the surface. A-still different way of proceeding, and\ one which is hereinafter mentioned as the preferred method of carry-.

ing out my invention, is to project a mixture of iron, sal-ammoniac, water and air onto the surface, either wet or dry. When thls 1s done with a pneumatic gun the mixture of iron and sal-ammon iac will be projected through a nozzle and simultaneously mixed with water flowing into the nozzle. The force (compressed air) which drives the mixture of iron and sal-ammoniac will .thus supply the. air needed in the mixture, and the quantity of water desired may be nicely regulated by means of a suitable valve, and if additional air secure the desired oxidation of the iron, and .the quantities ofwater, oxygen (air), and

oxidizing accelerator may be nicely regulated to secure the proper amount of each ingrev dient to secure the most eifective-oxidation.

As above indicated, if the surface to be treated is first wetted, the iron and sal-ammoniac may be applied in a dry condition, or the sal-amrnoniac may be first applied to tlie surface in the form of a solution, or all the materials may be applied atonce to the sur- I face when dry. In all of these methods of procedure the iron is forced into the pores in the presence of water (in the liquid or vaporous state), air, and sal-ammonia'c.

If, in any situation, it is not deemed necessary to secure rapid oxidation,'the oxidizing acceleratormay be omitted as an ingredient,

relying upon the slower oxidation by the surrounding air and by the air which enters the voids with the iron as a result of the described method of projecting it upon the surface being treated.

After the water has substantially evaporated from a surface treated as above descr bed, it is preferable, in the absence of sufficient moisture in the air, t6 again treat the surface with water, either in the vaporous or liquid form.

It is to be understood that the purpose of using water", in the above-described methods, is to effect the oxidation of the iron, assisted by the oxygen in the air; therefore whether any water at all need be used, or the quantity to-be used, will ,depend'upon the moisture in' the airzsurrounding the surface being treated, or the amount of moisture in the material itself.

If necessary, the surface to be treated may be first cleaned in any suitablemanner, as for instance by means of a sand blast, the salammoniac acting also as cleansing material.

My improved method applies a uniform homogeneous mixture by means of compressed air which forces the oxidizable iron into the masonry voids, removing the excess water and supplyinga large excess of moist air, thus preventing the formation ,of a uvater seal over the iron particles. Such a water seal tends to prevent oxidation until the surface water evaporates and also tends to close up the voids and prevent'the entrance of iron to the places where its presence is most effective. I provide the necessary moisture but not to excess, and use air as the carrier. My

method results in an accelerated oxidation of the iron and a complete filling of the voids by the iron expansion, without the tendency to render the masonry friable, since the ex ansion takes place toward. the open end 0 the voids after they have been filled completely. The result obtained is a wall structure having a very even surface and which is capable of resisting the absorption of, or transmission of water therethrough.

What I claim is:

1. The process of waterproofin masonry surfaces which consists, in forcibhy projecting into the masonry voids by compressed air, 3. The process of waterproofin masonry finely divided particles of Iron mixed with surfaces which consists, in forcib y pro'ectwater. I ing into the masonry voids by compresse air, 2. The process of waterproofinp masonry finely divided particles of iron mixed with 5 surfaces which consists, in forcib y projectwater and 'sal-ammoniac. ing into the masonry voids by compressed air, Signed by me this 6th day of October, 1926.. finely divided particles of iron mixed with p 1 water and an oxidizing accelerator. LOUIS S. WERTZ. 

